PRE-SEASON DIARY: DAY 10 - FRIDAY

Last night we were told that we'd be in the gym again today due to the freezing conditions at the training ground in Celbridge.

So to the gym it was and to warm up we went for a 15 minute walk and a light jog on the treadmills before having a good stretch.

Onto the serious stuff and the Gaffer and Pesch split us into three groups. One group was on the treadmills, one group on the bikes and the final group on the cross-trainer.

We had to work for 10 minutes and then move onto the next machine. When on the treadmill we had to run at level 12.5 and to make it harder on the legs we had to run at an incline.

Then if you're on the bikes you had to do the ‘Kilimanjaro' programme at level 10 and finally the cross-trainer where you were working at level 8 but you had to keep the RPM's above 75.

When everyone had completed their 3 sets we headed over to the rowing machine section of the gym where we were paired up and were told that we'd be having a sprint race on the rowers. You had to row as fast as you could for a minute, then rest for a minute.

Our target was 1000 metres in 3 sprints. There are a few lads that I wouldn't want on my lifeboat if we were ever on a sinking ship.

Somehow, one person, and I'll mention no names here, managed to fall off the rowing machine and slap himself in the face. For me that was the highlight of pre-season so far.

After regaining the feeling in my forearms word came through from Celbridge that the sun had thawed enough of the training ground for us to do some ball work, so we got a bite to eat in the café at Total Fitness and made our way to Celbridge.

The Gaffer gave us 10 minutes to warm up and get the legs going while he and Pesch set out the drills for us.

The keepers were given 20 minutes to go and get some handling done while the rest of the lads were put through some vigorous possession drills.

After finishing the drills the lads grabbed a drink and we moved onto the pitch which had been set out. 3 teams were put together and the odd team out were around the outside of the pitch. They could be used to play a one-two with if they were needed.

The first to 2 goals won or whoever was winning after 2 minutes. The winners of the game were given the choice if they wanted to stay on for the next game of if they wanted to go off for a breather.

Needless to say that none of the winning teams opted to go off. The standard of football was very good and there were some quality goals scored.

When the Gaffer called time on the games, Damian Lynch was given the honour of the warm-down and being the true professional that Lynchy is he made sure that everyone was stretching instead of just standing around.

It was great to be back out onto the grass and kicking a football after the last 2 mornings of being in Total Fitness.